Ball-Throwing

We've been practicing our ball-throwing abilities around here lately. We've been met with some successes and some failures, but the important thing is that we've kept trying. It certainly makes for some amusing moments when the dog catches the ball in her mouth and runs away from the owner. Amusing for me, not for the owner. No, she sees no humor in the fact that she now has to chase a little dog around that in theory shouldn't be able to run faster than her, but the little dog doesn't know that, so she runs circles around her owner. Finally I have to intervene before the tears start flowing, (from the owner, not the dog!) and just as quickly as the drama started, it has ended. The dog spits out the ball, the owner picks it up to bounce it off the sidewalk again, and oh great, the dog picks it up, starts running, and we start all over again! Yep, this has been my entertainment as of late, thats ok, I'm rather enjoying it. I realize that there will be a time when the last thing my kids will want to do is play ball in the backyard, they'll want to be off with their friends instead. And thats OK, I want to enjoy every stage of their lives, but for now I'm watching and coaching - ball-throwing.



The little man quickly grew tired of throwing the ball and resorted to tasting it instead. Hmmm... maybe I should go make supper!

Beach Time

We did manage to get down to the beach a couple times while we were down in Fl. Brianna always loves the water - swimming pool, beach, or just a lg. rain puddle out in the driveway - doesn't matter, she just wants to get wet! Tyler was a little more reserved, he didn't even like his feet getting wet! After a while though, he became a lot braver and was just running out into the ocean, that's when I decided that we had better head home, it's hard to keep 2 kids safe out there when they don't realize the danger of that much water. Not to mention the jellyfish, and the large waves that night! I realized that Dad was getting a little concerned also when he handed Mom his wallet to keep for him just in case he needed to 'rescue' one of the kids! We did have a great time though!

Home Sweet Home

We arrived back in Nebraska late Sat. night, after a 14 hour trip, everyone was ready to get out of that car! The kids were happy to be home and have played with their toys non-stop, well, I guess they did squeeze in a little time for a four-wheeler ride and a bike ride! Now, on to the not-so-fun-part, the unpacking and the laundry, and the general house-cleaning. It will be a relief to have everything back in it's rightful place.

It was so nice to be able to spend time with my parents in Florida. I went with the intention of helping Mom during her recovery time from surgery, although most times I didn't feel like I was helping at all, instead I was chasing children all day and trying to keep them occupied. Brianna really misses Mom and is excited for the next time that she can see her. We're all hoping that they will be able to make the trip out here to see us sometime this fall. Pictures coming soon, just let me get these suitcases unpacked first! :)

Checking in

Just wanted to type a quick update on our stay here in FL. Mom is doing really well and if all goes ok at her Dr's. appt. tomorrow, we will probably be back in Nebraska by this weekend. The endocrinologist has scheduled the radiation for 6 weeks from now, quite unexpected, but thats what he said. We're hoping all goes well with that and so thankful that Mom has been doing so well.

Update on Mom

Mom's surgery went very well although it was a longer procedure than anticipated. The surgery went well and lasted 5 1/2 hours, the preliminary report is that is 'Papillary Carcinoma', thyroid cancer. That diagnoses has been suspected all along but until surgery was done they weren't positive. Mom is doing really well, looks good and is talking well. The surgery inhibits the voice slightly and causes a slight hoarseness that will go away. She will have to have Radiation in a few weeks, although right now she is just happy to be through the surgery! The plan is to discharge later today, we're looking forward to taking her home!

Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes, we sure appreciate them.

A quick note

Mom is scheduled for surgery today at 12 noon. My Grandma is able to be here from NC and she left with Dad and Mom this morning for the hospital. The kids and I will be going to the hospital later this afternoon, I would have liked to be there the whole time but with 2 energetic kids it just wasn't possible. The surgery will most likely 3-4 hours long, please pray for a successful surgery and a quick recovery!

Heading to the Sunshine state . .

and oh, the sunshine that I'm sure we'll 'enjoy' while we're there! I'm finding that the older I get, the more I enjoy Summer over Winter, although those Florida summers are really tough! I'm sure we'll all survive just fine though. Might even find time to go to the beach!

The reason the kids and I are headed to Florida is to spend some time with my parents. 2 weeks my Mom had her thyroid biopsied and the results weren't very good. She is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, July 15 and afterwards they will know the exact diagnoses. We will be spending a few weeks with Dad and Mom as we work through all of this, and of course helping with laundry, grocery shopping, cooking and all those other things that go by the wayside when one doesn't feel well.

I will try to keep updates here as often as possible. Please keep our family in your prayers and especially Mom, as you can imagine this has been very difficult.

Yep, that is so me, cleaning out the car, except Tim isn't standing nearby, Sophie is! Always eager to clean-up the leftovers!

Brianna's 5 yr. photo and Tyler, too!

Don't know how they came up with this, but I'll take it! :)

68 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

Our 4th of July in pictures

We had a very low-key holiday around here this year, very relaxing and fun. The day before, on the 3rd, we enjoyed a BBQ with friends and then Tim and others set off their fireworks afterwards. Friday morning we took the kids to the parade and came home with too much candy! They had a great time picking up all the candy that was thrown, Brianna scored really well and we were even at the end of the parade route, we wondered if there would be any candy left by the time they got to us, we shouldn't have been worried!

'The truck went that way!' He loves big trucks and tractors!

Dirty little Dorito hands!
Later that evening, after our own cook-out, we went about 20 miles away to see fireworks. They were very pretty and the kids loved them. The 2 pictures below - I was experimenting with my camera in pitch darkness, without a tripod! I like to have these kinds of photos to scrapbook, family memories! :)

Happy 1st Blogerversary to me!

I can't believe I missed the actual date that I started this blog! It just dawned on me that my very first post was on July 4th, 2007. Wow, what a year! Last year we were living in an old farmhouse out in the country, we had an excited 4yr.old little girl ready to start pre-school, and a baby boy- 7 mo. old. Today we live in a great house in town, we have an excited 5yr. old little girl, ready to start Kindergarten and one very nervous, new-to-homeschooling-mommy, and a not-so-baby-boy who is almost 20 months! (Did I mention that this same not-so-baby-boy has been introducing me to the world of all-boy very, very quickly?) I am amazed every day the difference between him and his sister, for instance, he held his very own sparkler for July 4th this year! And held it quite well, I might add! He was sooo excited about the fireworks and was so intrigued by them, I just want to sit him down and tell him his is growing up too fast and that he absolutely has to slow down. Yes, he just doesn't have a say in this, if he doesn't, this Mommy is going to be gray-haired by age 30.

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. - Abraham Lincoln

America is a tune. It must be sung together. - Gerald Lee

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. - Dick Cheney

A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. - Montesquieu

Summer is here - finally!

I think it's pretty obvious how much we enjoy our kiddie pool around here!